Safety guard device for automobile door lock button



March 1970 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,

SAFETY GUARD DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK BUTTON Filed June 14, 1967 FIG. 7

INVENTOR 33 EARL M. TRAMMELL JR. aumnzi a MKPMM F'Gw 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent F 3,502,369 SAFETY GUARD DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK BUTTON Earl M. Trammell, .lr., 39 Salem Estates Drive, Ladue, Mo. 63124 Filed June 14, 1967, Ser. No. 645,908 Int. Cl. B603 5/00 U.S. Cl. 296146 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety guard device for use with an automobile door lock button that projects upwardly from an aperture in the door molding, and which is mounted for movement between a raised door-unlatched position and a lowered door-latched position. The guard device includes a hollow dome-shaped shield receiving and overlying the lock button, and includes a resilient tube attached to the shield and holding the shield against the door molding to preclude digital access to the lock button and to preclude lifting of the shield and lock button by a child. The shield has a lock shoulder that fits under a portion of the lock button to prevent removal of the shield from the button under the tension exerted on the shield by the resilient tube. The guard device, consisting essentially of a pair of shields operatively interconnected by the resilient tube, can protect both lock buttons of adjacent front and rear doors. An attachment means fixes the resilient tube to the intervening door post under a tension tending to hold the shields over their associated lock buttons. A storage band is carried by the door post and holds the guard device when not in use, yet, held by the attachment means.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to improvements in a safety guard device for the lock button of an automobile door, and more particularly to a safety device of this type which precludes unlatching and opening of the door, either by a child or unintentionally by anyone.

The subject of this invention constitutes an improvement over the subjects of other patents issued to this applicant, namely U.S. Patent No. 2,708,845, U.S. Patent No. 2,735,288, U.S. Patent No. 2,735,289, U.S. Patent No. 2,939,307, U.S. Patent No. 2,939,308, U.S. Patent No. 2,955,858, U.S. Patent No. 3,096,114, U.S. Patent No. 3,206,956 and copending application Ser. No. 498, 747 filed Oct. 20, 1965 and now abandoned.

Several of {the embodiments disclosed in the previously identified U.S. patents, and the present guard device, serve selectively to prevent a latch-conditioning element, such as a lock button, located on the inside of an automobile door from being manually moved to a door-unlatched position, and hence prevent the door from opening while the vehicle is in motion. Thus, it becomes impossible for children occupying the automobile to open the door, and the hazard of a child falling from a moving vehicle is eliminated.

U.S. Patent No. 2,793,064 discloses a plastic cap that is disposed over the head of a lock button when the button is depressed in order to prevent a child from unlocking the door. The cap includes a strap that is held by a hook support that fits under and grips the window molding. This item requires a definitely located molding edge, only protects a single lock button, and is not 3,502,369 Patented Mar. 24, 1970 capable of preventing full opening of the rear door if accidentally unlatched, and is not capable of being utilized on adjacent front and rear doors of any four-door automobile regardless of the make, in which the doors incorporate buttons in the latch mechanisms.

Some embodiments of the prior safety door locks require replacement of the existing door lock buttons, and are not capable of being readily removed selectively in order to provide usual operation of the lock button if desired, and subsequently replaced when the specific need arises.

Summary of the invention The safety guard device is especially suited for use with an automobile door lock button which is mounted for movement between a door-unlatched position and door-latched position. A resilient means is attached to a hollow dome-shaped shield that receives and overlies the lock button, the resilient means holding the shield against the door to preclude digital access to the lock button and to preclude lifting of the shield and the lock button by a child.

The resilient means it attached to one side of the shield, and under tension, exerts a pull that forces the dome-shaped shield against the door molding. The shield includes a lock shoulder that fits under the enlarged head of the lock button to preclude removal, either by a child or unintentionally by anyone, of the shield from the button under the pull exterted on the shield by the resilient means.

The resilient means is attached to a door post, and the shield and resilient means is selectively held by a storage band carried by the door post when the guard device is not in use yet held by the attachment means.

The safety guard device is especially adapted for use with front and rear automobile doors having an intervening post, and in which the latch mechanism for each door incorporate a lock button. The safety guard device includes a resilient means extending between and attached toa pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield receiving and overlying one of the lock buttons. The resilient means holds the shields against the respective doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons, and to preclude lifting of the shields and the lock buttons by a child.

When used in the environment of front and rear automobile doors having an intervening door post, the safety guard device includes a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each of which receives and overlies one of the lock buttons. The resilient means extends between and is attached to the shields, the resilient means holding the shields against the associated doors to preclude actuation of the lock buttons by a child or unintentionally by anyone.

An attachment means fixes the resilient means to the door post under a tension tending to hold the shields over their associated lock buttons and against their associated doors. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means fixes the resilient means to the door post below the shields and closer to the lock button of the rear door than to the lock button of the front door so that the resilient means will hold the shield over the rear door lock button with a greater force against its door than the shield over the front door lock button.

The resilient means interconnecting the pair of shields of the safety guard device is attached to one side of each shield. Each shield includes a lock shoulder at the opposite side of the shield, the lock button fitting under the head of the associated lock button to preclude removal of the shield from the button under the force exerted on the shield by the resilient means.

As an article of manufacture, the dome-shaped shield for the safety-guard device includes an inverted cup, and a base having a bottom opening of a size adapted to permit insertion of an associated lock button when relatively tilted, the bottom opening being at least partially defined by a lock shoulder fitting under the head of the lock button when the button is inserted and the base is seated on the door.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view as taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the base shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the elongate end element interconnecting the tube with the shield, and

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the loop attaching the tube to the door post.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the safety guard device generally indicated by 10 is especially adapted for use in an automobile having a front door 11, a rear door 12, and an intervening cooperating door post 13. As is usual, the door post 13 cooperates with each of the doors 11 and 12 to form an effective seal when the doors are closed. Each of the doors 11 and 12 includes a window frame 14 at least partially defined by a door molding 15.

The latch mechanism for each of the doors 11 and 12 includes a lock button 16 and 17 respectively. Each of the lock buttons 16 or 17 extends upwardly through an aperture (not shown) in the associated door molding 15 immediately adjacent the door post 13. As is conventional with this type of latch mechanism, the lock button 16 or 17 is depressed to a lowered door-latched position to condition the latch mechanism to preclude opening of the associated door 11 or 12, and is selectively lifted to a raised door-unlatched position to condition the latch mechanism to permit opening of the associated door 11 or 12.

The safety guard device includes a pair of hollow domeshaped shields referred to 'by 20 and 21. The detailed construction of these shields 20 and 21 is shown more clearly in FIGS. 2-7 inclusive. Preferably, the shields 20 and 21 are constructed of a molded plastic.

Each of the shields 20 and 21 includes an inverted cup 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that has a relatively smooth and rounded configuration which would prevent a small child from obtaining a good grip, and therefore would deter such a child from lifting or otherwise manipulating the position of the shield. The cup 22 has an internal chamber 23, and has a bottom opening defined by peripheral edge 24.

Each shield includes a cooperating base generally indicated by 25 (FIGS. 4 through 7). The base 25 includes a bottom opening 26 of a size adapted to permit insertion of the head of the associated lock button 16 or 17 when the button head and shield are relatively tilted. The bottom opening 26 is at least partially defined by a lock shoulder 27 that fits under the button head when the button is inserted through the bottom opening 26.

Formed internally of the base 25 at the side opposite to the lock shoulder 27 is a small recess 30, the purpose and function of which will be later described. A small slot 31 extends radially through the top of the base 25 and communicates with the recess 30. The recess 30 and slot 31 are located on an outwardly extending boss 32 formed integrally with the base 25.

Located internally of the base 25 is an upwardly facing peripheral seat 33 that is aligned with the recess 30. The inverted cup 22 is fitted into the base 25 so that the bottom edge 24 engages the peripheral seat 33. When completely assembled, the cup 22 and the base 25 are fixed together by a suitable adhesive.

Extending between and operatively interconnecting the shields 20 and 21 is an elongate resilient tube 34, constituting a resilient means preferably constructed of a material such as latex. When assembled, the ends of the resilient tube 34 are located closely adjacent, and preferably contiguous to, the base bosses 32.

The resilient tube 34 is operatively connected to each of the shields 20 and 21 by an elongate end element referred to by 35 (FIG. 8). The end element 35 is constructed of a metal or plastic wire that has a limited degree of flexibility yet has little or no longitudinal yieldability under the usual tension forces applied to the end element 35 during the use of the safety guard device. Each end element 35 includes a small disc 36 at one end and a plug 37 at the opposite end. The plug 37 is provided with an annular groove 40.

An end element 35 is applied to each of the shields 20 and 21 before the cup 22 and base 25 comprising such shield are secured together. For example, the wire length of the end element 35 is passed through the slot 31 of base 25 so that the disc 36 interfits the internal recess 30. Then, when the associated cup 22 is inserted and fixed to the base 25, the disc 36 is captured within the recess 30, and the end element 35 is thereby secured to the shield.

To fasten each end element 35 to the associated resilient tube 34, the plug 37 is inserted into the tube 34 until the tube end abuts the base boss 32. Then, a lock ring 41 is passed over the tube 34 and about the plug 37, the lock ring 41 pressing the tube into the plug groove 40, and thereby securing the plug 37 to the tube 34.

It will be understood that the resiliency of and the tensional force exerted by the tube 34 can be controlled by the depth of penetration of the end elements 35 and the point of fixation of the plug 37 to the tube 34. To reduce the degree of or amount of longitudinal expan: sion of the tube 34 under tension, the end elements 35 are made longer and are inserted deeper into the length of the tube 34, which reduces the effective length of the resilient tube 34. On the other hand, if more stretch of the tube 34 is desired, the end elements 35 are made shorter so that the points of fixing the plug 37 to the tube 34 are spaced a greater distance apart, thus providing the tube 34 with a greater effective length.

An attachment means referred to by 42 secures the resilient tube 34 to the door post 13, The attachment means includes a tab 43 having an integral socket 44 that receives and carries a Wire loop 45. The Wire loop 45 is covered with a rubber or plastic sheath to protect the tube 34 that is located within the wire loop 45. A screw 46 fixes the tab 43 to the transverse Wall 47 of the door post 13 which is located immediately adjacent the rear door 12. The flexible wire loop 45 passes around the inside edge 50 of the door post 13.

Fixed to the door post 13 below the safety guard device 10, is a storage means indicated by 51. The storage means 51 includes an elastic band 52 having a U-shaped wire clip 53 at each end. The wire clips 53 embrace the inside edges 50 of the door post 13 and stretch the elastic band 52. When the guard device is not being utilized, the resilient tube 10, together with the attached shields 20 and 21 are slipped under the elastic band 52 to hold the guard device against the door post 13 in a convenient location for subsequent use. While the guard device is stored in this manner, the tube 34 is still held by the wire loop 45. When it is desired to use the guard device 10, it is merely removed from underneath the elastic band 52 and connected operatively to the lock buttons 16 and 17.

It is thought that the functional advantages of the safety guard device have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the installation and usage of the guard device will be briefly described.

When manufactured, the shields 20 and 21 will be attached to the resilient tube 34, and the wire loop 45 may be slipped over and carried by the tube 34. However, the wire loop 45 may be separate and slipped over one of the shields 20 or 21 and on the tube 34 by the installer.

To install the guard device, the shield 20 is located over its associated lock button 16 and the shield 21 is located over its associated lock button 17. The installer locates the tab 43 of the attachment means 42 against the transverse wall 47 of the door post 13 and pulls downwardly until the tube 34 is stretched sutficiently so that the tension of the tube 34 exerted on the shields 20 and 21 urges the shields 20 and 21 downwardly tightly against the door molding 15, and so that the lock shoulders 27 of the respective shields 20 and 21 are urged under the heads of the associated lock buttons 16 and 17, with sufficient force so that a small child cannot remove the shields 20 and 21 from the look buttons 16 and 17 respectively. When the tab 43 has been so located, it is secured in place by the screw 46. When the attachment means 42 has been so located, it will hold the tube 34 and the connected shields 20 and 21 ready for selective use.

When it is not desired to use the safety guard device 10, the tube 34 and the connected shields 20 and 21 are slipped under the resilient band 52 of the storage means 51 that has been stretched between and clipped to the inside edges 50 of door post 13. The wire loop 45 of the attachment means 42 is flexible and will bend sufficiently to permit the storage of the guard device 10 in this manner.

When it is desired to utilize this safety guard device 10, as for example when a small child is riding in the rear or in the front seat, the doors 11 and 12 are closed and the lock buttons 16 and 17 are depressed to the doorlatched position. Then, the guard device 10 is removed from the storage means 51, and the shield 21 is operatively connected to and slipped over the lock button 17 of the rear door 12. To connect the shield 21, it is tilted with respect to the head of the lock button 17 so that the lock button head will enter through the base opening 26 and extend into the compartment 23 provided by the inverted cup 22. When the lock button 17 is fully inserted, the shield 21 is straightened so that the base 25 seats on the door molding and so that the lock shoulder 27 fits under the head of the lock button 17.

After the shield 21 has been operatively connected, the other shield is operatively connected to its associated lock button 16 of the front door 11 in substantially the same manner. For example, the resilient tube 10 is stretched and the shield 20 is tilted relative to the head of the lock button 16 to enable insertion of the button head through the base opening 26 so that it will extend into the compartment 23 of the inverted cup 22. When the lock button 16 is fully inserted, the shield 20 is straightened so that the base will seat on the door molding 15 and so that the lock shoulder 27 will fit under the head of lock button 16. Because the resilient tube 34 is stretched to enable the installation of shields 20 and 21 with respective, associated lock buttons 16 and 17, the tension exerted by the tube 34 on the shields 20 and 21, tends to hold the shields 20 and 21 tightly against the door molding 15 so as to preclude direct digital access to the lock buttons 16 and 17 and to preclude lifting of the shields 20 and 21, and hence of the lock buttons 16 and 17 by a child or unintentionally by anyone in view of the physical etfort required to overcome the tensional force of tube 34 in order to tilt the shields 20 and 21 sufiiciently to pass the lock shoulders 27 by the heads of the lock buttons 16 and 17 and withdraw the lock button 16 and 17 from the base openings 26. Moreover, the tensional force exerted by the resilient tube 34 on one side of each of the shields 20 and 21 tends to urge the lock shoulder 27 of each shield 20 and 21 effectively under a portion of the associated lock button 16 and 17 respectively. This interengagement of the lock shoulders 27 under the tension force exerted by tube 34 precludes the shields 20 and 21 from tilting as a result of the downward tension on each shield 20 and 21. Consequently, accidental disengagement of the shields 20 and 21 from their associated lock buttons 16 and 17 is prevented.

It will be noted that the attachment means 42 is located closer to the lock button 17 of the rear door 12 than the lock button 16 of the front door 11. Consequently, that length of resilient tube 34 extending from the wire loop 45 to the shield 21 is located at a greater acute angle from the horizontal than is that length of tube 34 extending from the wire loop 45 to the other shield 20. The resultant vertical component of the downward tensional force exerted by tube 34 on the shield 21 is greater than the vertical component exerted on the shield 20. As a result, while it is difiicult and virtually impossible for a small child to exert sufficient physical effort to lift the shield 20 on the front door, it would be even more difiicult and even less likely for a small child to exert even greater physical force needed to lift the shield 21 on the rear door 12. It will be understood that this safety guard device provides a greater margin of protection to the child riding in the rear seat of the automobile where the child is likely to have less adult supervision.

If for any reason either one or both of the shields 20 or 21 were lifted accidentally to raise the lock button 16 and 17 to the raised door-unlatched position, an extremely unlikely, if not impossible event in view of the definite amount of controlled physical effort required, either or both of the doors 11 and 12 will be conditioned for opening. However, the resilient tube 34 exerting the tensional force on the shields 20 and 21 will maintain operative connection of the lock shoulders 27 with the associated lock buttons 16 and 17, and thereby maintain operative connection of the shields 20 and 21. As long as this operative connection of the shields 20 and 21 with the associated lock buttons 16 and 17 is maintained, the front door 11, which normally opens outwardly from the center post 13 will be precluded from swinging open. On those automobile models in which the rear door 12 opens from the center post 13, the resilient tube 34 will preclude the rear door 12 from swinging open also. On those automobile models in which the rear door 12 is hinged at the center post 13 and opens rearwardly, the tensional force exerted by the resilient tube 34 will tend to retard such door opening.

To remove the safety guard device, an adult or some mature person having sufl'icient physical strength, will grip the shield 20, and tilt the shield 20 relative to the lock button 16 against the resilient loading of tube 34, and lift the shield 20 so that the head of the lock button 16 passes through the base opening 26. The lock button 16 can then be raised to the door-unlatched position, and the front door 11 opened. The other shield 21 can be simply tilted to pass the head of the lock button 17 through its base opening 26. The lock button 17 can then be lifted and the rear door 12 can be opened.

If the safety guard device is not to be used immediately, the device can be stored by simply folding the resilient tube about the wire loop 45 and slipping the tube 34 and the connected shields 20 and 21 under the resilient strap 52 of the storage means 51.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safety guard device for use with an automobile, the improvement comprising:

(a) a door including a lock button mounted on the door for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post adjacent the door,

(c) a hollow dome-shaped shield adapted to receive the lock button,

(d) resilient means attached to the shield and holding the shield against the door to preclude digital access to the lock button and to preclude movement of the shield and the lock button from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position by a child, and

(e) attachment means mounted on the door post below the shield and adapted to attach the resilient means in diagonal relation to the door post.

2. A safety guard device as defined in claim 1, in which:

(f) the resilient means is attached to one side of the shield, and

(g) the shield includes a lock shoulder at the opposite side of the shield, the lock shoulder being adapted to fit under a portion of the lock button to preclude removal by a child or unintentionally by anyone of the shield from the button against the tilting force exerted on the shield by the resilient means.

3. A safety guard device as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock button is located next to a door post, in which:

(f) the resilient means is attached to one side of the shield, and

(g) storage means mounted on the door post holds the shield and resilient means when not in use, yet held by the attachment means.

4. A safety guard device as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock button is located next to the door post, in which:

(f) the resilient means includes:

(1) a resilient elongate tube, and

(2) an element having one end attached to the shield, and having the other end inserted into and fixed to the resilient tube, and

(g) the shield includes a lock shoulder adapted to fit under a portion of the lock button to preclude removal of the shield from the button against the tilting force exerted on the shield by the resilient tube.

5. A safety guard device for use with an automobile, the improvement comprising:

(a) a door including a lock button mounted on the door for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post adjacent the door,

(c) a hollow dome-shaped shield adapted to receive the lock button,

(d) resilient means attached to the shield and holding the shield against the door to preclude digital access to the lock button and to preclude movement of the shield and the lock button from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position by a child,

(e) the resilient means including:

(1) a resilient elongate tube, and

(2) an element having one end attached to the shield, and having the other end inserted into and fixed to the resilient tube,

(f) a loop adapted to be attached to the door post and extending interiorly of the door, the loop attaching the resilient tube to the door post, and exerting a tension on the resilient tube, and

(g) the shield including a lock shoulder adapted to fit under a portion of the lock button to preclude removal by a child or unintentionally by anyone, of the shield from the button against the tension exerted on the shield by the resilient tube.

6. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvement comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a door unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the doorunlatc'hed position,

(e) attachment means adapted to fix the resilient means to the door post under a tension tending to hold the shields over their associated lock buttons and against their associated doors.

7. A safety guard device as defined in claim 6, in which:

(f) storage means is adapted to be carried by the door post for holding the interconnected shields and resilient means when not in use, yet held by the attachment means.

8. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvement comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the door,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and at tached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position,

(e) attachment means adapted to fix the resilient means to the door post, below the shields and closer to the lock button of the rear door than to the lock button of te front door, under a tension tending to hold the shield over the rear door lock button with a greater force against its associated door than the shield over the front door lock button.

9. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvement comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position,

(e) the resilent means being attached to one side of each shield, and

(f) each shield including a lock shoulder at the opposite side of the shield, the lock shoulder being adapted to fit under a portion of the associated lock button to preclude removal of the shield from the button against the tension exerted on the shield by the resilient means.

10. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvements comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

() a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preelude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the. door-latched position to the doorunlatched position,

(e) the resilient means including:

(1) a resilient elongate tube, and

(2) a pair of end elements, each end element being attached to one of the shields and being inserted into and fixed to one end of the resilient tube, and

(f) attachment means adapted to fix the resilient tube to the door post and exert a tension through the resilient tube to the shields.

11. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvements comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the reseilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position,

(e) the resilient means including:

(1) a resilient elongate tube, and

(2) a pair of end elements, each end element being attached to one side of one of the shields and being inserted into and fixed to one end of the resilient tube,

(f) attachment means adapted to fix the resilient tube to the door post, and

(g) each shield including a lock shoulder at the side of the shield opposite to the connection of the end element to the shield, the lock shoulder being adapted to fit under a portion of the associated lock button to preclude removal of the shield against the tension exerted on the shield by the resilient tube.

12. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvements comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a doorunlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the door-unlatched position, (e) the resilient means including:

(1) a resilient elongate tube, and

(2) a pair of and elements, each end elementbeing attached to one side of one of the shields and being inserted into and fixed to one end of the resilient tube,

(f) a loop adapted to be attached to the door post and extending interiorally of the doors, the loop attaching the resilient tube to the door post, below the shields and closer to the lock button of the rear door than to the lock button of the front door, and the loop fixing the resilient tube under a tension tending to hold the shield over the rear door lock button with a greater force against the associated door than the shield over the front door lock button,

and

(g) each shield including a lock shoulder at the sid of the shield opposite to the connection of the shield with the associated end element, the lock shoulder being adapted to fit under a portion of the associated lock button to preclude removal of the shield from the button against the tension exerted on the shield by the resilient tube.

13. A safety guard device as defined in claim 12, in

which:

(h) storage means is adapted to be carried by the door post for holding the interconnected shields and resilient tube when not in use, yet held by the attachment loop.

14. A safety guard device for use with an automobile,

the improvements comprising:

(a) front and rear doors, each door having a lock button mounted thereon for movement between a door-unlatched position and a door-latched position,

(b) a door post intermediate the doors,

(c) a pair of hollow dome-shaped shields, each shield being adapted to receive and overlie one of the lock buttons, and

(d) a resilient means extending between and attached to the shields, the resilient means being adapted to hold the shields against the associated doors to preclude digital access to the lock buttons and to preclude movement of the shields and the lock buttons by a child from the door-latched position to the doorunlatched position,

(e) each shield including a base having a bottom opening of a size adapted to permit insertion of the associated lock button when relatively tilted, the bottom opening being at least partially defined by a lock shoulder adapted to fit under a portion of the lock button when the button is inserted and the base is seated on the door.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,587 3/1939 Cassileth 292288 2,793,064 5/1957 Budolf. 3,059,952 10/ 1962 Wittman. 1,777,146 9/ 1930 McGlaughlin.

802,958 10/1958 Pickard.

PHILIP GOODMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

